Stereoscopic X-ray apparatus



Sept. 29, 1925.

l.. R. McDoNALD STEREO-SCOPI() X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28. 1922 v'Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

c, UNITED lSTATES 1,555,505Y .PATENT oFrlicE.

LESLIE R. MCDONALD, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

STEREOSCOPIG X-RAY APPARATUS.

Application led August 28, 1922. Serial No. 584,658.

To all (whom it may Gomera:

Be itV known that I, LESLIE'R. MoDoNALD, a citizen of the United States,'residing at Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereoscopic X-Ray Apparatus, of which` the following is a specification.

My invention relates to'improved means for observing conditions lrevealed by the use of the X-ray in the system which may be spoken of as X-ray stereo-fluoroscopy; and my improvements are directed particularly .to the production of a lighter and simpler devicethan any heretoforeproposed, which may be attached to and lcarried bythe head of the observer, and through which 'he may obtain a stereoscopic view of an object under observation', my improvements being directed particularly to. the means whereb the line of vision may be alternately cut o from one eye or the other while a succession of images are simultaneously produced for observation. f

In the drawings, in all the figures of which similar parts are referred to by similar reference numerals, Fig. 1 is a plan view, with the -head rest and part of the back plate' removed; Fig. 2 is an edge view, taken as looking up on Fig. lgand Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1, looking to the left.

The parts of my improved palmoscope are assembled upon a frontplate 1 and a back plate 2, between which is mounted a fixed block 3 carrying an electromagnet 4, preferably built up of laminated iron, and

-wound continuously in one direction in the usual way so that one end may become a positive pole when the magnetis energized by an electrical impulse of one polarity and the other end when energized by an impulse of the other polarity, the ends of the winding wire being carried to suitable'binding posts 5, 6 through which connections may be made ,with a 'source of alternating current. n

On pins 7, 8, carried by the plates 1 and 2, and preferably screwed into the plate1 as shown, are mounted rotatable sleeves 9, 10, provided respectively with socket slots 11, 13. and 12, 14, the opposite ends of a curved spring 15 being inserted respectively in the sockets 13, 14; while the opposite ends of a light, reed-like spring 16 are inserted respectively in the sockets l1, 12.

A shaft 17, is .provided with a milled head 18, a reduced shank 08 passing through'a hole lin the spring 15 and being threaded into the block; so that, by screwing the shaft down or up inthe block, more or less tension maybe applied to the spring 15, to cause it to turn the sleeves 9, 10 outward- 4or inward, thereby correspondingly increasing or diminishing the tension of the spring 16.

The spring 16 carries two light shutters 19, 20, associated with laterally elongated peep holes 21, 22 in the. front plate, registering with corresponding holes 23, 24 in the'` back plate.

Hence, when a wave-like vibration or undulfation is produced in the spring 16, the shutters 19, 2O will be alternately raised and lowered sufficiently to. open and close their respective peep holes. This may be accomp'lishedthrough the infiuence of the electromagnet 4 when energized by an alternating current, producing undulations in the spring and opening Iand closing the peep holes in syntchronism with the impulses of the curren If the same current is employed in the wellknown way to produce two alternating series of X-ray images, taken from dierent angles, the images of one .series will be exposed to observation by the lifting of one shutter, and the images of the other series by the lifting of the other shutter, the shutter` operating means being in'circuit withr the .projecting means, andy a clear, stereoscopic view ofthe object under observation will be obtained.

The natural periodof vibration of the'- spring 16 may be modified, through the iniiuence of the Aspring 15 and its governing the impulses of the alternating current. For the tension placed upon the spring 16 by rotating the sleeves 9,- 10 forward or backward may be 'diminished or increasedso that the spring will respond more orless .readily to the 4attraction of the magnet,

and a degree of' tension may readily be 0btained at which the spring will pulsate norscrew, so as to adjust it harmoniously to `1o5 mally in harmony with -the electrical imheld in this position by suitable means,A such as a strap 26, the ends only of which are lshown in the drawings, proportioned to pass a simple and efficient. instrument for stereoscopically observing- X-ray images, in whichv the shutters are'lifted and dropped vertically instead of being moved horizontally, with the advantage of aHording a comparatively wide .-arcof observation through each peep hole much more quickly than is practicable with laterally moving shutters, thus giving the observer a clearer, more distinct and broader vision of the X-ray images than would otherwise be obtainable.

It will be understood that details'of construction of the palmoscope may be modi,

' fied, as by the use of mechanical equivalents and the like, Without departing from the scope of my invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to .secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination, with a casing provided with peep holes therethrough, of a bent spring having separated terminals and carrying shutters, terminal supports for the spring, and means for producing undulations therein.

2. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination, with a casing provided with peep holes therethrough, of a flexible element normally under tension and provided with shutters, means for producing undulations in the flexible element and tension regulating means for varying its responsiveness to such undulation producing means.

3. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination, with a casi-ng provided with peep holes therethrough, of a flexible element provided with shutters, moveable terminal supports for the flexible element, and means for producing undulations in the flexible element.

4. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination, with a casing provided with peep holes therethrough, of a flexible element provided with shutters, moveable terminal supports for the flexible element, means for moving such supports and means for producing undulations in the flexible element.

5. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination,

with a casing pro- -flexible element provided with shutters,

moveable terminal supports for the flexible element, resilienty means for moving Such supports Aand means `for producing undulations inthe flexible element.

6. In an apparatus for observing images, the combination, with a casingprof,v vided with peep holes therethrough, ofla strip like flexible element fixedy ateach end and carrying a pair of shutters, and means embodying an electromagnet for producing undulations in the flexible element.

7. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combinatiom with-a casing provided' with peep holes therethrough,rof a bowed flexible elementv fixed `at both ends and. carrying shutters, and lmeans for producing undulations in the flexible element.

8. In an apparatus forr observing X-'ray images, the combination, with a casing provided with peep holes therethrough, of a flexible element provided' with shutters, moveable terminal supports for the flexible element, bowed resilient means for'moving such supports, and means for'producing un# 'I dulations in the flexible element.

9. In an apparatus for observingfX-'ray images,.the combination, with a casing provided with peep holes therethrough, of a -flexibleelement provided with shutters, ro.-

tatable terminal supports for the flexible element, means for rotating such supports and means for flexible element. A

l0. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination, with a Vcasing provided with peep holes therethrough, of a flexible element provided with shutters', tension producing means, common moveable terproducing undulations in the minal supports for the flexible element and the tension producing means, and means for producing undulations in the flexible element.

11. In an apparatus for observing X-rayl images, the combination, with a casing-provided with peep holes therethrough, of a flexible element provided with shutters, ten# sion producing means embodying a resilient bowed element and means for applying presi sure thereto, common moveable terminal Supports for the flexibley element and the ten-- sion producing means, and means .for proef' ducing undulations in the flexible element.

l2. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combination, -with a casing provided with laterally elongated peep holesV therethrough, of a single flexible element 'carrying a pair of vertically moveable shutters, and a plurality of e'lectromagnets acting alternately upon separated pointsv of the 'i flexible element and constituting means for producing 'undulations in the flexible element. f

13. In anv apparatus `for observing X- ray images, the combination, with a casing pr0- vided with peep holes therethrough; of a along the resilient element, thereby simultaneously depressing the other shutter. 1,4. In an apparatus for observing X-ray images, the combinatiomwith a easing pro- 10 vided with peep holes therethrough, of la flexible element constituting an velectric. varmature provided with shutters,"land means operating alternately on separated points of the flexible elementA for producing undula 15 tions' in' the flexible element.

LESLIE R.' MGDONALD. 

